Each year, the Maritime Museum dedicates second Sunday in March towards celebrating Pennsylvania's birthday.

333 years ago, William Penn received a charter from King Charles in England for a piece of land that would become Pennsylvania colony.

"This is reaching way back, to 1681, making it 333 years, so not too many people are going to know that. But it's where we became Pennsylvania," said Dennis Carlson, a docent guide for the Maritime Museum.

The Maritime Museum and the Flagship Niagara, along with museums across the state, are celebrating the birthday with free admission.

It's one of the first opportunities each year that Erieites have to view history up close and personal, free of charge. 
 
This is the first time we've ever been here, we've lived here two and a half years but it's the first time we've actually came," said Dave Vinker, at the museum and ship tour with his son and two daughters. 

"It's wonderful, very nice and informative, there's a lot of displays I didn't realize were here," said David Roan, another Erie resident. 

Kids and adults alike learned something new, from the diet of sailors to how a historical ship operates. 

"The food they had to eat was pretty disgusting, from their grog to their moldy biscuits, and their spoiled meat," said Judy Roan, there with husband, Dave. 

If there's one lesson learned, remembering about Charter day - officially March 4th - is probably a worthwhile takeaway. 

"It's a Pennsylvania national holiday, so to speak, and it's wonderful to remember where are roots are, going that far back," Carlson said.

Tickets to see the museum and ship are usually $8 per adult. Regular hours of operation for the Maritime Museum begin on April 1st.